Glen Cove's March For Our Lives draws a crowd of almost 1,000

Student: 'This is just the beginning for change'

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Nearly 1,000 people marched from Finley Middle School through downtown Glen Cove on the morning of March 24 to participate in the Glen Cove March For Our Lives rally, one of more than 700 demonstrations held across the country demanding action to make schools safe places to learn.

The event’s participants came from all over the North Shore to voice their collective grievance, in the wake of the school shooting in Parkland, Fla. last month, that when it came to school shootings, as many of the marcher’s signs read, “Enough is enough.”

The event, which began as a series of conversations among students at the high school, found its way onto the City Council’s agenda in late February. “We are here because we are too young to vote,” student organizer William Casale, 17, told the City Council in late February. “But our voices must be heard.” The council unanimously approved the students’ request for a march route and for the necessary support from police.

The councilmembers were present at the march as participants, but leadership of the event rested squarely with the students.

Before departing the middle school’s circular driveway, Casale asked the crowd via loudspeaker to keep the march “tight,” to only take up half the street to avoid infringing on the mobility of police vehicles, which, throughout the march, patrolled the route.

The only exception were the student organizers, who ran up and down the perimeter leading the crowd in chants, including "Stop the silence, end gun violence,” "Hey hey, ho ho, the NRA has got to go” and "This is what democracy looks like."

At the end of the route, the same courageous student committee that two months ago stood before the City Council greeted marchers from a grand stand, and gave speeches professing their frustrations, their fears, but most importantly their hopes.

"We march in declaration that enough is enough," Casale said. "This is just the beginning for change."

Along the route, the Herald Gazette spoke with individuals about their decision to march in solidarity with the March For Our Lives movement.

Frank Cortale marched alongside his daughter Emilia. Although the family lives in Jericho, Cortale graduated from Glen Cove High School in '81. Emilia cited the need to feel safe at school. Frank agreed. "There's no need for civilian people to have AR-15s."

Glen Cove resident Barrie Dratch said she was marching for Scott Beigel, who was killed during the Parkland shooting. She had worked with Beigel at Camp Starlight for 18 summers. "I'm here to support him, and every other victim of every school shooting," Dratch said.

Locust Valley residents Shelly Ventresca and Barbara Garriel commended the students for standing up for their own safety. "It's a vile thing that these children are being referred to as the 'mass shooting generation,'" Garriel said, "But we're here to support their activism for smart gun safety legislation. This is grassroots democracy at its best."

For Glen Cove High School alum Christina Cappiello, the shooting hit home. She is a teacher herself. "We the people will reclaim our government," she said.

The students read the names of the Parkland victims, each accompanied with a bright orange rose. They included a rose for 16-year-old Jaelynn Willey, who was shot at Great Mills High School in Maryland last week by an armed student. She died yesterday.

Rabbi Irwin Huberman of Congregation Tifereth Israel and Rev. Roger Williams of First Babtist made remarks.

"We need to keep praying with our feet," Huberman said.

Williams agreed with his fellow clergyman, calling for an end to America's culture of violence. "We don't need hate, we need love," he said.